Posted on 04/22/2005 10:58:11 AM PDT by IleeneWright
Posted on Thu, Apr. 21, 2005
Voinovich raises conservative ire over Bolton vote
Group to run ads attacking senator for delaying vote on Bush nominee
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer
Ohio Sen. George Voinovich is dealing with the firestorm created when he refused to vote to confirm the appointment of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The conservative group Move America Forward dubbed the move ``obstructionist conduct'' and plans to launch a radio ad campaign against Voinovich today in Ohio.
Marcie Ridgway, a spokeswoman for Voinovich in Washington, D.C., said the senator had no response to the promised ad campaign.
The group is upset with Voinovich, who on Tuesday told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he wasn't comfortable voting on Bolton -- President Bush's pick for the job -- after concerns were raised about allegations of unbecoming conduct for a U.N. nominee.
The phones in the senator's Washington office rang constantly Wednesday and e-mail boxes were brimming with responses to his actions.
``Obviously, there's been a lot of interest in what the senator did yesterday, and we've been receiving a large number of calls and e-mails, quite frankly, from all over, not just Ohio,'' Ridgway said.
The responses, she said, have been both positive and negative.
The Ohio Republican Party in Columbus was dealing with similar reactions, but party spokesman Jason Mauk said the state party is standing by its man.
``Obviously, the senator is an independent thinker, and he is very deliberate when it comes to serious consideration such as this, as he and his staff have repeatedly made clear,'' Mauk said. ``This is not a no vote. This is simply the senator's effort to get up to speed and weigh the facts.''
Mauk said Voinovich is the most popular elected official in recent Ohio history, and he can take the heat and still have the overwhelming support of Ohio voters.
``He's not the kind of leader who cows to pressure from interest groups,'' he said.
The Move America Forward Web site says it is ``strongly backing the nomination of John Bolton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations'' and expressed ``outrage today that a Republican United States Senator would refuse to vote to confirm the President's nominee in committee.''
``As a result, Ohio U.S. Senator George Voinovich will be the target of radio ads criticizing Senator Voinovich for his obstructionist conduct,'' the Web site says.
According to the site, the organization already has raised more than $24,000 to help pay for the ads. The group is encouraging calls and e-mails to the senator and provides his phone numbers.
Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff, a longtime supporter of Voinovich, said his office, too, was fielding calls from people who weren't happy about Voinovich's actions.
Arshinkoff, however, said he believes the senator hasn't made up his mind about Bolton.
``He said that he wanted time,'' said Arshinkoff, who believes that in the end, Voinovich will vote to confirm Bolton.
``Thinking people should support this president,'' he said.
Ridgway said Voinovich was not purposely trying to thwart President Bush's choice.
``He didn't really defy him. He's a very big supporter of the president. He was saying that as a committee, we need to look at these things a little bit further,'' she said. ``He wants to avoid, quite frankly, a bloodshed on the Senate floor.''
"I'm just so warm & fuzzy all over, knowing how HARD I worked for a Republican re-election with a MAJORITY! I'm absolutely DISGUSTED!"
I SECOND THAT, ILEENE!!! You said it well!! I live in Ohio, so I also have to live with the fact that traitor Voinovich is my senator. Not another dime!!
We gained HORRIFIC DISAPPOINTMENT! What's WORSE? They don't even seem to be affected in the least, by our OUTRAGE!!!!
The most powerful indication to Voinovich that he should vote for Bolton was when Biden opened his mouth in opposition!
Bolton is going to get confirmed. After all this silly, tortuous, posturing by the RINOS, Bolton will get an up and down Senate vote. I just have this feeling.
That's great! Thanks for this info!
But both of MY Senators are LIBERALS!
What about WEB FORMS?
AWESOME!!
ping
I think Bolton will get out of Committee. My concern is whether or not he gets past the cloture shenanigans in the full Senate.
Thank you for the info!
yeah. We sure wouldn't want such a man to be foisted upon the upright, moral members in the UN - (double sarc)
``Obviously, the senator is an independent thinker, and he is very deliberate when it comes to serious consideration such as this, as he and his staff have repeatedly made clear,'' Mauk said. ``This is not a no vote. This is simply the senator's effort to get up to speed and weigh the facts.''
Yes he is engaged in thoughtless thought. Yea, he needs to get up to speed unless he is too dumb to do so.
Running that...and adding the supposition of being a hammer on employee's margins a counterfeit connect the dots.
Karen Hughes could be of help on this...in image recovery.
Guess its part of the game....like a football player.
Tough on the field...but he better hug puppies and sign kids autographs or he is a social misfit.
Lobbyists in Washington have it better than their partner politicians.
They make the money....and do not have to be concerned about MSN moments on camera.
In some measure...Lobbyists may be the smarter of the two groups for sizing the game field.
My open letter to Sen Voinovich on his site. At least it's off my chest. (Reprinted from another thread)
Senator,
Your conduct on the Foreign Relations committee is simply disgraceful. The President of the United States has sent a respectable nominee up for approval, and you forsake the Republican Party to play "Big Shot". Did you forget that your job is "advice and consent"? I wish the President could just sent his nominees to the full Senate for up or down vote.
We would end the practice of tin-horned "want-to-be's" like yourself gumming up the works. I hope President Bush lays the wood to you as I'm sure he can. Maybe you should send all the RNC campaign money back to them. You my friend, are a disgrace and don't pass the "kitchen test".
Now, go to lunch with Senator Jeffords, two peas in the same pod.
Sincerely,
WHOA!!!!!!!!! AWESOME letter!!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us! :)
Too many Republicans are democrats in disguise. Rats have infiltrated the party. That's all there is to it, and I think they'll continue to come out of the woodwork on these crucial votes until we clean house.
After the scandal with the U.N. including TRICKING young women into being sterilized, food for oil scam, etc., don't these idiots realize that we HAVE to have someone TOUGH dealing with the U.N., or do they want the status quo.
I agree; Bolton will be sent out of committee on voting day and will be confirmed by a majority in the Senate. I look forward to it.
Hey Sun!
No, they know what *we* want! But unforunately, THEY want to turn America International!
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